Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results for the 2010 seniors were released Monday by the College Board and show that 2,094 Lee County students participated in testing with significant improvements in average scores.

The average SAT Reading score rose by 12 points in Lee County while the state average decreased by one and the national average remained steady.

For the first time in recent history, the Lee County reading score jumped above the State average. The Lee County math score climbed 10 points, while the State remained the same and the national average inched up one point.

Writing scores in Lee County jumped 12 points compared to State and national decreases, according to Joeeph Donzelli, a spokesman with he school district.

“We’ve been working hard to get students achieving at high levels, and these SAT results are very, very promising,” said Dr. James Browder, superintendent of schools. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction, but we’re not satisfied there’s still more work to be done and our teachers and students have already begun that work.”

The SAT is widely used by colleges and universities as one measure for predicting academic success and is used in admission decisions. Other factors include a student’s course work, grades, class rank and educational objectives.

In addition to college-bound students, students not passing the high school FCAT Test can take the SAT to qualify for graduation.

Below are the results of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) for the past two years.

Lee County

High School Seniors Testing

2008/092009/10

Number of Students19952094

Percent of Seniors37%36%

SAT Reading ScoresSAT Math Scores

2008/092009/102008/092009/10

Lee County485497Lee County481491

Florida 497496Florida 498498

Nation501501Nation515516

SAT Writing Scores

2008/092009/10

Lee County466478

Florida 480479

Nation493492